Part 3: The Call to Contain
Location: Xavier Institute, Evening
Logan's boots echoed down the polished corridor as he made his way to Charles Xavier's private study. His face was set, jaw clenched, and the cell phone in his hand still glowed from the call just ended.
He didn't knock. He simply opened the door and stepped in.
Charles looked up from a console where security feeds of the grounds flickered quietly.
"It's him, isn't it?" Xavier asked calmly.
Logan nodded once. "Riven. He found another lab."
Behind him, Rogue and Iceman looked up from the lounge across the hall. They crossed over, concern plain in their expressions.
"How bad?" Xavier asked.
"Bad," Logan said. "He says there's a kid—a mutant. Hydra messed with his brain, turned him into something unstable. Strong. Real strong. He got loose. Headed for the city."
Rogue took a step forward. "We should go too."
"No," Xavier said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Not this time. Logan, Scott, Jean, Ororo—you four will go. Rogue, Bobby, stay here in case the situation escalates and backup is needed later."
Iceman opened his mouth to argue, but Xavier met his eyes firmly. "That's final."
Scott stepped through the door behind Logan, adjusting his visor, followed closely by Jean Grey and Ororo Munroe. Ororo's expression was unreadable, but her eyes held a storm beneath them.
Jean turned to Xavier. "We'll try to stop him without hurting him. But if he's as unstable as Logan says—"
"I trust your judgment, all of you," Xavier said.
Logan turned without another word, already heading for the hangar. Jean, Scott, and Ororo followed closely, the air between them charged with quiet urgency.
Behind them, Rogue stood silently with her arms folded. She didn't say it out loud, but the tension in her brow said it all: I should be out there too.